Does social capital explain active aging?

1. Does social capital explain active aging? HyejiChoi* Soondool Jung** Heesuk Yoon* EunkyungBae** SongyiBaek* * Seoul Women’s University ** Ewha Woman’s University

2. Background • Social capital is a resource gained through relationships, facilitating the connection of individuals to a group or community. • Connection to the community or participation in society is a key element of active aging. • The relationship between individuals declines as they age, implying that one’s connection to the community weakens while his/her social capital decreases in later life. • Investigating the impacts of social capital on active aging makes it possible to develop an intervention strategy for active aging based on social capital.

3. Purpose of this study • To investigate the level of active aging among elderly Koreans • To investigate the association between the level of active aging and the level of social capitalism among elderly Koreans

4. Theoretical background • Social capitalism • Definition “Social capital refers to features of social organization such as networks, norms, and social trust that facilitate co-ordination and co-operation for mutual benefit” (Putnam, 1995:67) • Elements • Social trust and safety • Social cooperation • Social inclusion • Social network

5. Theoretical background • Active ageing • Definition The process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation and security in order to enhance the quality of life as people age • Activity theory • Basic notion A person who ages optimally is one who stays active and manages to resist the withdrawal of social world.

6. Research hypotheses • A high level of social trust and safety is associated with a high level of active aging among elderly Koreans • A high level of social cooperation is associated with a high level of active aging among elderly Koreans • A higher level of social inclusion is associated with a high level of active aging among elderly Koreans • A high level of social network is associated with a high level of active aging among elderly Koreans

7. Research design and methods • Research design • Social survey research • Subject • 500 elderly Koreans aged over 65

8. Research design and methods

9. Research design and methods • Sampling • Purposive sampling from eight provinces in Korea • Data collection • Face-to-face interview by professionally trained paid interviewers • Survey instrument • A structured questionnaire developed by the authors

10. Research design and methods • Measurement • Level of active aging • 11 questions developed by Shimane Prefecture of Japan • Responses measured on a four-point Likert scale • Social trust and safety • Bullen and Onyx scale of social credibility and safety • Five questions measured on a five-point Likert scale • Social cooperation • Five questions from the social capital indicator invented by Choi • Five questions measured on a five-point Likert scale • Social inclusion • Five questions from the social capital indicator invented by Choi • Five questions measured on a five-point Likert scale • Social network • Five questions from the social capital indicator invented by Choi • Five questions measured on a five-point Likert scale

11. Results Level of active aging • MEAN = 30.75 (sd=4.44)

12. Results

13. Discussion • The results imply that social capital has two dimensions. • One is emotional and subjective, including social trust/safety and social cooperation. The other is objective, with inclusion and social network included. • The results also show that active aging is significantly associated with the subjective aspects of social capital but not with its objective aspects. • Therefore, a strategy strengthening the sense of solidarity between the elderly and their community is recommendable to promote active aging.